PBR

Professional Bull Riders BlueDEF® Velocity Tour’s debut exceeds expectations in first six events

Actuals double partners’ initial forecast

PUEBLO (April 15, 2014) – The BlueDEF® Velocity Tour, a collaboration between the Professional Bull Riders and AEG, officially debuted in Hampton, Va., on March 15 at the Hampton Coliseum with much anticipation and to great success.

The one-day event’s actuals doubled the PBR and AEG’s initial expectations, exciting participating venues with the results and the events’ production value. The debut’s success was replicated by the tour’s subsequent events in Wheeling, W.V. (March 21-22) and Omaha, Neb. (March 28-20).

The BlueDEF Velocity Tour (BDVT) allows fans in cities not currently serviced by the PBR’s elite Built Ford Tough Series, which airs on CBS and CBS Sports Network, to experience the spectacle of the PBR. The same production standards, rider talent and marketing/PR support enjoyed by the BFTS is employed by the BDVT.

“It’s been a great year so far for the PBR on all fronts,” said PBR Chairman and CEO Jim Haworth. “This unique relationship with AEG and its venues gives us an opportunity to explore new ways to bring our product to more fans. This is a great association with very supportive and engaged partners, so we’re looking forward to upcoming BlueDEF Velocity Tour events with much anticipation.”

“The response from fans in all markets has been overwhelmingly positive and has exceeded our most optimistic expectations,” said AEG Facilities President Bob Newman. “The first class production and rider competition is fantastic and the credit goes to the support from our partners at the PBR and BlueDEF.”

The BlueDEF Velocity Tour is part of the PBR Touring Pro Division; therefore, it offers established and emerging bull riding talent more opportunities to qualify for the BFTS. The contestants will acquire the valuable points needed to move up the PBR’s Touring Pro Division ranks into the BFTS and ultimately become eligible for the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals.

In its inaugural season, the BDVT will travel to approximately 20 markets, including venues in mainstream locales, such as:

June 14 in Cincinnati, Ohio at U.S. Bank Arena
June 28 in Newark, NJ at Prudential Center
July 5-6 in Carson, Calif. at StubHub Center
August 2 in Detroit, Mich. at Joe Louis Arena
August 16 in Cleveland, Ohio at Quicken Loans Arena
September 13 in Louisville, Ken. at KFC Yum! Center
October 4 in Minneapolis, Minn. at Target Center
November 8 in San Diego, Calif. at Valley View Casino Center November 15 in Ontario, Calif. at Citizens Business Bank Arena November 22 in Bakersfield, Calif. at Rabobank Arena

“We couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Bryan Emrich, chief marketing officer for Old World Industries, parent company of PEAK, BlueDEF and HERCULINER. “The eager and enthusiastic crowds at all the venues to date reinforce the PBR’s continuing popularity and growth potential and present a wonderful opportunity for BlueDEF, PEAK, and HERCULINER to reach a fresh new loyal audience through the sport.”

For more information about The BlueDEF Velocity Tour, please visit www.pbr.com.

About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)The world’s premier bull riding organization, the PBR, turns 21 in 2014. In just two decades, the dream of 20 bull riders has become a global sports phenomenon with PBR broadcasts reaching more than half a billion households in 50 nations and territories around the world, and more than 2.5 million fans attending live events each year. PBR has paid out more than $130 million in earnings to its athletes, and 25 riders have earned more than $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million ― the most of any western sports athlete in history. For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at http://twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at http://www.YouTube.com/PBR.

About AEG Facilities AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, is the leading sports, entertainment and venue operator in the world. AEG Facilities, a stand-alone affiliate of AEG, owns, operates or consults with more than 100 of the industry’s preeminent venues worldwide, across five continents, providing complete venue management, as well as specialized programs in operations, guest services, ticketing, booking, sales and marketing. AEG Facilities also provides resources and access to other AEG-affiliated entities, including live event producer, AEG Live, AEG Global Partnerships, AEG Development, AEG 1Earth, AEG Encore and AEG Creative to support the success of AEG venues across the globe. The Los Angeles-based organization owns, operates or provides services to the world’s most elite venues, including STAPLES Center (Los Angeles, Calif.), StubHub Center (Carson, Calif.), Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE (Los Angeles, Calif.), Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.), KFC Yum! Center (Louisville, Ky.), AmericanAirlines Arena (Miami, Fla.), Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.), Target Center (Minneapolis, Minn.), BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, Texas), Oracle Arena and O.co Coliseum (Oakland, Calif.), CONSOL Energy Center (Pittsburgh, Penn.), Rabobank Arena (Bakersfield, Calif.), Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai, China), MasterCard Center (Beijing, China), The O2 Arena (London, England), O2 World (Berlin, Germany), O2 World Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany), Ahoy Arena (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Itaipava Arena Pernambuco (Recife, Brazil), Allianz Parque (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Allphones Arena (Sydney, Australia), Ülker Sports Arena (Istanbul, Turkey), Ericsson Globe Arena (Stockholm, Sweden) and the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center (Muscat, Oman). For more information, please visit aegworldwide.com.

About Old World Industries Old World Industries, LLC is among the largest privately-held companies competing in the automotive Car Care industry. The Northbrook, Illinois-based company enjoys a presence in various consumer and commercial product markets in more than 50 countries worldwide. Old World's brands include a full line of PEAK® automotive products including Antifreeze, Motor Oil, Washer Fluid, Electronics and Wiper Blades; BlueDEF® Diesel Exhaust Fluid and equipment; Fleet Charge® Fully Formulated Coolant; Final Charge® Heavy Duty Global Extended Life Antifreeze & Coolant; SIERRA® Antifreeze; SmartBLADE Premium Wiper Blades; and HERCULINER® Truck Bed Liner Kits. For more information, please visit BlueDEF.com, PEAKAuto.com, and Herculiner.com.